Kidney Community Kitchen

What is a “Renal Diet”?

A renal diet is simply a diet that has been prescribed for someone with kidney disease and is based on the stage of kidney disease, blood work results, medications and any other dietary needs. Since there is no standard renal diet, the diet can vary from person to person and can change over time. The goals of the diet are complex but can be broken down as such:

To prevent build-up of the toxins that healthy kidneys normally clear out of the blood;

To reduce the workload of the kidneys (before dialysis);

To prevent complications that can occur from a build-up of toxins;

To meet all your nutritional needs.

While the diet may be different for everyone the common themes are restricted sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and low or high protein needs. Some people may require a fluid restriction as well. A registered dietitian will help to devise a nutrition care plan that is individualized to meet your specific needs.